Electrical connection for multichip modules

ABSTRACT

A multi-chip package is provided. The multi-chip package includes: a first semiconductor chip including first circuitry, a first chip terminal in communication with the first circuitry, a first surface, and conductor means for transmitting at least one of a signal and power; a second semiconductor chip attached above the first surface of the first semiconductor chip, the second semiconductor chip including second circuitry and a second chip terminal in communication with the second circuitry; and an electrical connection connecting the second chip terminal of the second semiconductor chip to the conductor means of the first semiconductor chip; wherein the conductor means is dedicated to the second semiconductor chip and does not transmit either a signal or power to or from the remainder of the first semiconductor chip.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority and is a Divisional ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/032,430 filed on Feb. 15, 2008 nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,888,806, which claims the priority of Korean PatentApplication No. 2007-0073476, filed on Jul. 23, 2007, in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of each of which isincorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to multichip modules and moreparticularly to the manner in which electrical connections are made tothe module or between chips in the module.

2. Description of the Related Art

As electronic products move to smaller size and higher density andperformance, semiconductors have correspondingly become smaller withtheir components and connections becoming denser. This in turn has leadto the development of multichip package (MCPs) in which a plurality ofsemiconductor chips are stacked on a substrate such as a printed circuitboard. This creates a high density, high performance package that isnonetheless small in size.

As density increase and size decreases, however, problems may developwith multichip modules. For example, in FIG. 1, an MCP includes a firstsemiconductor chip 10 mounted on a substrate 12. A second semiconductorchip 14 is mounted on semiconductor chip 10 thereby forming an MCPcomprising semiconductor chips 10, 14. Chip 10, which is larger thanchip 14, includes terminals such as terminals 16, 18. Chip 14 alsoincludes terminals, like terminals 20, 22. As can be seen, the terminalson chip 14 are spaced much more closely together than those on chip 14.The terminals on both chips are electrically connected to conductivepads, like pads 24, 26, formed on substrate 12 via wire bonds, such aswire bonds 28, 30.

The terminals on chip 14, like terminals 20, 22, are further away andhigher from substrate 12 than the terminals, like terminals 16, 18, onchip 10. As a result, the wire bonds connecting the terminals on chip 14to substrate 12 are longer and form a greater angle relative to thesubstrate than the wire bonds that connect the terminals on chip 10 tothe substrate pads. And the terminals on chip 14 are much closertogether. All these factors may combine to produce wire sweeping, inwhich the wire bonds connecting the terminals on chip 14 to thesubstrate pads electrically short against one another. Also, the longereach wire bond, the more likely the wire will be broken duringmanufacturing, e.g., when the wires are encapsulated.

In addition to these problems, when the terminals are close together ason chip 14, there is a limit to how many adjacent terminals can be wirebonded to the substrate. As seen in FIG. 1, there is a gap indicatedgenerally at 32 that must be included because the density and length ofthe bonds limit the number of adjacent wire bond connections.

It would be desirable to provide wire bonds or other electricalconnections on the upper chip of an MCP that are shorter and have asmaller bonding angle relative to the substrate. One approach uses aredistribution network, but it cannot be employed in some types of chipsbecause the chip design must include certain electrical characteristics,and this complicates chip design.

Another approach uses an interposer, but this increases fabrication costand does not completely resolve the problems associated with long wires,terminals at a high elevation relative to the substrate, and largebonding angles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an enlarged partial view of a prior art MCP.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a semiconductor chip constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of the present invention depicted in aview similar to FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a fifth embodiment of the present invention depicted in a viewsimilar to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a sixth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective, somewhat schematic view of a first MCPconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective, somewhat schematic view of a second MCPconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective, somewhat schematic view of a third MCPconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective, somewhat schematic view of a fourth MCPconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective, somewhat schematic view of a fifth MCPconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective, somewhat schematic view of a sixth MCPconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the sixth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective, somewhat schematic view of a seventh MCPconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a top, plan, somewhat schematic view of a eighth MCPconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a card constructed in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of a system constructed in accordancewith the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Turning again to the drawings, FIGS. 2-8 illustrate a variety ofsemiconductor chips that may be placed on top of another chip in an MCP.FIGS. 9-18 illustrate semiconductor chips, including chips like thosedepicted in FIGS. 2-8, in MCPs.

With reference first to FIGS. 2 and 3, indicated generally at 32 is asemiconductor device. Device 32 includes a plurality of conductivelines, like conductive lines 34, 36. The conductive lines are formed onthe surface 38 of a dielectric layer 40, which in turn is formed on asemiconductor substrate 42. The conductive lines can form a pattern ofalternating lines and spaces, as shown. An internal circuit region 44 isformed in dielectric layer 40. Conductive chip pads, like pads 46, 48,are formed on dielectric layer 40 and connect to internal circuitportions (not depicted) of semiconductor device 32. A passivation layer50 is formed on dielectric layer 40.

Openings, like openings 52, 54, are formed in passivation layer 50 withopening 52 exposing a portion of chip pad 46 and opening 54 exposing aportion of conductive line 34. Each of the chip pads, like chip pads 46,48, include a corresponding opening to expose the chip pads forconnection to external circuitry. Additional openings, like opening 54,are formed over at least some of the metal lines in a manner that willbe described more fully herein.

The chip pads, like chip pads 46, 48, may be formed in the same processstep, or in a different step, as formation of the conductive lines, likelines 34, 36. The conductive lines are electrically isolated from thechip pads. Conductive lines that provide power or ground connections inan MCP may be wider than other conductive lines.

In FIG. 4, indicated generally at 56 is another semiconductor chipaccording to the invention. Structure that corresponds to previouslyidentified structure is either unnumbered or carries the sameidentifying number. In chip 56, the conductive lines, like conductivelines 34, 36, are formed on top of passivation layer 50 rather than ontop of dielectric layer 40 as in FIG. 3. A resin layer 58 is formed ontop of passivation layer 50 and includes openings, like openings 60, 62,to expose the chip pads and parts of the conductive lines in the samemanner as openings 52, 54 in FIG. 3. Resin layer 58 comprises a polymerlayer including polyimide.

In chip 56, the chip pads and conductive lines can be formed indifferent planes and in different process steps. To increase wirebonding efficiency and to prevent difficulties during wire bondingcaused by the difference in height between the chip pads and theconductive lines, the height of the chip pads, like chip pad 46, may beextended in a further process step to the level of dashed line 64thereby bringing the upper surfaces of both the conductive lines and thechip pads to substantially the same plane.

The extension of the chip pads, like chip pad 46, to the level of dashedline 64 may be accomplished in the same process step in which theconductive lines are formed thereby bringing the upper surfaces of boththe conductive lines and the chip pads to substantially the same plane.For example, after the formation of the opening 52 as shown in FIG. 3, ablanket conductive layer (not shown) can be formed on passivation layer50 and chip pad 46. The conductive lines and an extended portion (notshown) of chip pad 46 can be formed by a conventional patterning processof the blanket conductive layer. The resin layer 58 is formed on top ofpassivation layer 50 and includes the openings, like opening 62 andupper portion of opening 60, to expose the extended portion of the chippads and parts of the conductive lines in the same manner as openings52, 54 in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 5, indicated generally at 66 is another semiconductor chipaccording to the invention. Structure that corresponds to previouslyidentified structure is either unnumbered or carries the sameidentifying number. In chip 66, the conductive lines, like conductivelines 34, 36, are at an angle relative to the generally rectangularshape of chip 66. Lines 34, 36 may be placed at any angle, and may noteven necessarily be linear—for example, one or more lines could becurved—so long as the lines are electrically isolated from the chippads, like pads 46, 48.

In FIG. 6, indicated generally at 68 is another semiconductor chipaccording to the invention. Structure that corresponds to previouslyidentified structure is either unnumbered or carries the sameidentifying number. In chip 56, the conductive lines, like conductivelines 34, 36, are separated into two groups 70, 72, with the groupsbeing separated by a space indicated generally at 74. As a result, lines34, 36 are electrically isolated from collinear lines 76, 78,respectively. As will be seen, this permits lines in each group, likelines 34, 36, to propagate different signals because they areelectrically isolated from one another.

In FIG. 7, indicated generally at 80 is another semiconductor chipaccording to the invention. Structure that corresponds to previouslyidentified structure is either unnumbered or carries the sameidentifying number. In chip 80, at least one of conductive lines, like82, and chip pad 46 are each connected to a conductive through-siliconvia (TSV) 83, 84, respectively, as are several other of the conductivelines and chip pads, although the chip pad connections are not visiblein FIG. 7. Each conductive TSV is connected to a conductive pad, likepads 86, 88.

The TSVs are each formed through dielectric layer 40 and semiconductorsubstrate 42 and thereby carry signals from the metal lines and chippads to the conductive pads, like pads 86, 88, on the underside ofsemiconductor chip 80. As will be seen, this arrangement facilitatesconnections in an MCP. This approach could also be used in theembodiment of FIG. 4.

In FIG. 8, indicated generally at 90 is another semiconductor chipaccording to the invention. Structure that corresponds to previouslyidentified structure is either unnumbered or carries the sameidentifying number. Semiconductor chip 90 has conductive lines laid outin a manner similar to semiconductor chip 68 in FIG. 6. Chip 90,however, includes center chip pads, like chip pads 92, 94. As the chippads in the other embodiments do, the chip pads in chip 90 makeelectrical connections with circuitry internal to chip 90. Unlike theother embodiments, however, each of the chip pads on chip 90 areelectrically connected to a single corresponding conductive line, likechip pads 92, 94 are connected to lines 76, 34, respectively. As can beseen, there are additional conductive lines that are not connected tochip pads. These additional unconnected lines are electrically isolatedfrom the internal chip circuitry and from the chip pads. Thisarrangement provides for redistribution of the signals on the chip padsvia the conductive line to which each pad is connected, as will befurther described in connection with FIG. 18.

Indicated generally at 96 in FIG. 9 is an MCP. The MCP includes a firstsemiconductor chip 98 and a second semiconductor chip 100. Structurethat corresponds to previously identified structure is either unnumberedor carries the same identifying number. Chip 98 is constructed similarlyto chip 32 in FIGS. 2 and 3. Chip 100 is mounted on chip 98 viaadhesive, and chip 98 is mounted on a substrate 102, also usingadhesive. A first side (not visible) of chip 98 is mounted on substrate102. Chip 100 is mounted on the second side 99 of chip 98.

Chip 100 includes conductive pads as shown that are connected via wirebonds, like wire bond 104, to conductive line 34. A portion ofconductive line 34 is exposed by an opening 106 etched into passivationlayer 50 in the manner shown in FIG. 3. This permits wire bond 104 to beelectrically connected to the conductive line by a bonding process. As aresult, internal circuitry of chip 100 is electrically connected toconductive line 34 via a chip pad on chip 100 and wire bond 104. Thisredistributes the connection point for the internal circuitry of chip100.

Another opening 108 over conductive line 34 provides access to theconductive line for bonding one end of another wire 110 to conductiveline 34. The other end of wire 110 is bonded to a terminal 112 onsubstrate 102. Other terminals on chip 100 are bonded to otherconductive lines via wire bonds, like wire bond 104, as shown, and theseother conductive lines are in turn bonded to terminals, like terminal112 on substrate 102, via wire bonds like wire bond 110. In this manner,the connections to circuitry in chip 100 are redistributed to facilitatewire bonding in a manner that obviates problems associated with thelength, height, and bonding angles of the conventional approach. Chippads, or terminals, on first semiconductor chip 98 are connected toterminals, like terminals 114 on substrate 102, via wire bonds like wirebond 225. The terminals such as terminal 114 are also referred to hereinas electrical contacts.

This approach provides for electrically connecting chip 100 andsubstrate 102 with wire bonds that have a length, height, and bondingangle similar to the wire bonds that connect the pads on chip 98 to thesubstrate.

Indicated generally at 118 in FIG. 10 is an MCP. The MCP includes afirst semiconductor chip 120, a second semiconductor chip 122, and athird semiconductor chip 124. Structure that corresponds to previouslyidentified structure is either unnumbered or carries the sameidentifying number. Chip 120 is constructed similarly to chip 98 in FIG.9. And chips 122, 124 are mounted on chip 120 similarly to the way chip100 is mounted on chip 98 in FIG. 9.

Chip 124 includes pads that are connected to metal lines in a mannersimilar to how the pads on chip 122 are connected to metal lines. Forexample, on chip 122, a wire bond 104 connects one of the pads on chip122 to a conductive line 128. Another wire bond 130 is connected toconductive line 128 through an etched opening 132. The other end of wirebond 130 is connected to one of the terminals on substrate 102.

Because each conductive line is isolated from every other conductiveline, and from internal semiconductor circuitry, adjacent conductivelines, like lines 34, 128, may be used to route connections from thepads on chips 122, 124, respectively. In MCP 118, every other conductiveline is associated with connections from one of chips 122, 124. In otherwords, if the conductive lines are consecutively numbered, the odd onesare connected to pads on one of the chips and the even ones areconnected to pads on the other chip.

Indicated generally at 134 in FIG. 11 is an MCP. The MCP includes afirst semiconductor chip 136 and a second semiconductor chip 138.Structure that corresponds to previously identified structure is eitherunnumbered or carries the same identifying number. Chip 136 isconstructed similarly to chip 68 in FIG. 6. And chip 138 is mounted onchip 136 similarly to the way chip 100 is mounted on chip 98 in FIG. 9.

As can be seen, pads on one side of chip 138 are connected via wirebonds as previously described to adjacent lines in line group 70, andthe pads on the other side are connected via wire bonds to adjacentlines in line group 72. Each of the lines to which a pad on chip 138 isconnected is in turn connected via another wire bond to a terminal onsubstrate 102. As a result, the pitch of the pads, i.e., the number ofpads along the edge of the second chip, may be increased because atleast two sides of chip 136 may be used as signal paths via the metalline groups 70, 72.

Indicated generally at 140 in FIG. 12 is an MCP. The MCP includes afirst semiconductor chip 142, a second semiconductor chip 144, and athird semiconductor chip 146. Structure that corresponds to previouslyidentified structure is either unnumbered or carries the sameidentifying number. Chip 142 is constructed similarly to chip 136 inFIG. 11. And chips 144, 146 are mounted on chip 142 similarly to the waypreviously described chips are mounted on the first semiconductor chip.

In MCP 140 the pads on chip 144 are connected via wire bonds toconductive lines in group 70 in the manner previously described, and thepads on chip 146 are connected to the conductive lines in group 72. Thetwo groups of conductive lines are in turn connected via wire bonds toterminals on substrate 102, also as previously described. This approachprovides for a high density MCP.

Indicated generally at 148 in FIG. 13 is an MCP. The MCP includes afirst semiconductor chip 150 and a second semiconductor chip 152.Structure that corresponds to previously identified structure is eitherunnumbered or carries the same identifying number. Chip 150 isconstructed similarly to chip 98 in FIG. 9. Chip 152 is mounted on chip150 using solder bumps 154, 156, best seen in FIG. 14. Solder bump 154is mounted on a chip pad 158 that is connected to internal circuitry ofchip 152. But bump 156 provides only structural support for chip 152; itis not connected to any internal chip circuitry. Both bumps 154, 156 aresupported on metal line 34, which carries whatever voltage appears onpad 158. The pitch of the bumps on chip 152 is substantially the same asthe pitch of the conductive lines, like conductive line 34, on chip 150.This approach facilitates use of flip chip bonding with the bumps beingformed on chip 152. As a result, there are no wire bonds connected tothe second chip, thus eliminating disadvantages associated with use ofwire bonds.

In an alternative approach (not shown) conducting bump 154 may bereceived completely within the opening in the passivation layer overconductive line 34 with the underside of chip 152 being supported onpassivation layer 50. This may require a thicker passivation layer thandepicted in FIG. 14, but eliminates the need for a support bump, likebump 156, because the chip is resting on and supported by passivationlayer 50.

In another alternative approach, the first semiconductor chip 150 can bemounted on the substrate 102 with its active surface, which includeschip pads, facing substrate 102. In that structure, an insulating layer(not shown) can be formed on the surface opposite the active surface ofthe first semiconductor chip 150, namely the exposed surface of thesemiconductor substrate 42. The conductive lines can be formed on theinsulating layer (not shown). The first semiconductor chip 150 can becoupled to substrate 102 by flip chip bonding and the conductive linescan be used to form electrical connections between the secondsemiconductor chip 120 and the substrate 102. The second semiconductorchip may be connected to the conductive lines in any manner describedherein.

Indicated generally at 159 in FIGS. 15 and 16 is an MCP. The MCPincludes a first semiconductor chip 160 and a second semiconductor chip162. Structure that corresponds to previously identified structure iseither unnumbered or carries the same identifying number. Both chips areconstructed similarly to chip 80 in FIG. 7 in that each has conductiveTSVs, like TSV 166 in chip 160 and TSV 164 in chip 162.

One end of TSV 164 is connected to a conductive pad 168 formed on chip162. Pad 168 is connected to internal circuitry of chip 162. The otherend of TSV 164 is connected to a redistributed pad 170, which is in turnmounted on conductive line 34. Alternatively, TSV 164 may be directlyconnected to conductive line 34 without the need for redistributed pad170.

The upper end of a TSV 166 (in chip 160) is connected to the undersideof conductive line 134 with the lower end being connected to a terminal172 formed on substrate 102. As a result, an internal circuit connectionin chip 162 is redistributed via pad 168, TSV 164, conductive line 34,and TSV 166 to terminal 172 on substrate 102. This approach obviates theneed for any wire bonding. In other words, it provides an MCP withoutany wire bonds. The first semiconductor chip 160 is secured to substrate102 with an adhesive layer 163.

Indicated generally at 174 in FIG. 17 is an MCP. The MCP includes afirst semiconductor chip 176, a second semiconductor chip 178, and athird semiconductor chip 180. Structure that corresponds to previouslyidentified structure is either unnumbered or carries the sameidentifying number. Chips 176, 178 are constructed similarly to chip 98in FIG. 9. Chips 176, 178 are substantially identical to one another andmay comprise, e.g., memory chips. As can be seen, chip 178 is mounted onchip 176 with the centers of both chips offset from one another. Thisresults in two sides of chip 178 lapping over two edges of chip 176 withsubstantial portions of the other two sides 182, 184 of chip 176 beingset back from the other two edges of chip 176. As a result, wire bondconnections, like wire bond 110, may be made between the conductivelines on chip 176 and the terminals on substrate 102, like terminal 112,and further wire bond connections, like wire bond 186, may be madebetween the conductive lines on chip 178 and the conductive lines onchip 176. It is of course possible to stack chips of different sizeswith the larger chip preferably being beneath a smaller chip.

Chip 180, which may be, e.g., an LSI circuit such as a processor, ismounted on chip 178 using adhesive. The pads on chip 180 are connectedto conductive lines on chip 178 using wire bonds, like wire bond 188. Asa result, circuitry internal to chip 180 may be connected via wirebonds, like wire bond 188, to the conductive lines on chip 178. Theseconductive lines are connected via wire bonds, like wire bond 186, toconductive lines on chip 176, which are in turn connected via wirebonds, like wire bond 110, to terminals, like terminal 112 on substrate102.

The terminals on chips 176, 178 are connected via wire bonds, like wirebonds 190, 192, respectively, to terminals on substrate 102. In analternative embodiment (not shown) TSVs, like those shown in FIGS. 7,15, and 16, may be used to provide some or even all of the connectionsshown as wire bonds in FIG. 17.

Indicated generally at 194 in FIG. 18 is an MCP. The MCP includes afirst semiconductor chip 196 and a second semiconductor chip 198.Structure that corresponds to previously identified structure is eitherunnumbered or carries the same identifying number. Chip 196 isconstructed similarly to chip 90 in FIG. 8. Chip 196 includes aplurality of conductive chip pads, like pads 200, 202 disposed on anupper surface of chip 196 beneath chip 198. These pads on chip 196 aredisposed in two substantially parallel rows beneath chip 198 with pad200 being in one row and pad 202 in the other.

Every other conductive line in each of groups 70, 72 is connected to oneof the pads, like pads 200, 202. Every other conductive line in each ofgroups 70, 72 is connected to a conductive pad, like pads 206, 208, onthe upper surface of chip 198 via wire bonds, like wire bonds, 210, 212,respectively. Put differently, every even conductive line is connectedto pads, like pads 200, 202, on the upper surface of chip 196, and everyodd conductive line is connected to pads, like pads 206, 208, on theupper surface of chip 198, with the latter connections being made withwire bonds, like wire bonds 210, 212.

Further wire bonds, like wire bonds 214, 216, connect the conductivelines to terminals, like terminals 218, 220, respectively, on substrate102. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), a chip smaller than chip198 is mounted on chip 196 between the two rows of pads on chip 196. Inother words, the second chip does not cover the pads on the first chip.

Turning now to FIG. 19, indicated generally at 222 is a schematicdiagram of a card constructed in accordance with the present invention.Card 222 may be, e.g., a multimedia card (MMC) or a secure digital card(SD). Card 222 includes a controller 224 and a memory 226, which couldbe a flash, PRAM, or another type of non-volatile memory. Acommunication channel, indicated generally at 228, permits thecontroller to provide commands to the memory and to transfer data intoand out of memory 226. Controller 224 and memory 226 may comprise an MCPin accordance with any of the previously described embodiments. The card222 can have a larger density than conventional type. In the presentinvention, it is possible to remove interposer chips, so that cardthickness can be reduced with respect to the conventional card havinginterposer chips. Additionally, the present invention can reduce defectsfrom card caused by wire broken, so that reliability of card can beincreased.

Considering now FIG. 20, indicated generally at 230 is a systemconstructed in accordance with the present invention. System 230 may be,e.g., a computer system, a mobile phone, an MP3 player, a GPS navigationdevice, a solid state disk (SSD), a household appliance, etc. System 320includes a processor 232; a memory 234, which could be a DRAM, flash,PRAM, or another type of memory; and an Input/Output Device 236. Acommunication channel 238 permits the processor to provide commands tothe memory to transfer data into and out of memory 234 via channel 238.Data and commands may be transferred to and from system 230 viaInput/Output device 236. Processor 232 and memory 234 may comprise anMCP in accordance with any of the previously described embodiments. Thepresent invention can make the stable system because the presentinvention can reduce defects caused by wire broken.

1. A multi-chip package comprising: a first semiconductor chip includingfirst circuitry, a first chip terminal in communication with the firstcircuitry, a first surface, and conductor means for transmitting atleast one of a signal and power; a second semiconductor chip attachedabove the first surface of the first semiconductor chip, the secondsemiconductor chip including second circuitry and a second chip terminalin communication with the second circuitry; and an electrical connectionconnecting the second chip terminal of the second semiconductor chip tothe conductor means of the first semiconductor chip; wherein theconductor means is dedicated to the second semiconductor chip and doesnot transmit either a signal or power to or from the remainder of thefirst semiconductor chip.
 2. The multi-chip package of claim 1, furthercomprising: a package substrate to which the combination of the firstand second semiconductor chips are mounted, including at least first andsecond package terminals; a first conductor providing an electricalconnection between the first chip terminal and the first packageterminal; and a second conductor providing an electrical connectionbetween the conductor means and the second package terminal, therebyproviding electrical communication from the second package terminal tothe second circuitry.
 3. The multi-chip package of claim 2, wherein theconductor means is a metal line.
 4. A multi-chip package comprising: apackage substrate including a package terminal; a first semiconductorchip including circuitry attached to the package substrate at a firstsurface of the first semiconductor chip, the first semiconductor chipincluding a plurality of conductor lines each insulated from theremainder of the first semiconductor chip; a second semiconductor chipincluding circuitry and a chip terminal in communication with thecircuitry of the second semiconductor chip, the second semiconductorchip attached to a second surface of the first semiconductor chipopposite the first surface; and an electrical connection from the chipterminal of the second semiconductor chip to the package terminal, theelectrical connection including one of the plurality of conductor linesof the first semiconductor chip.
 5. The multi-chip package of claim 4,wherein the plurality of conductor lines are linear.
 6. The multi-chippackage of claim 5, wherein the plurality of conductor lines arepatterned across a majority of the second surface of the firstsemiconductor chip.
 7. The multi-chip package of claim 4, wherein atleast one of the conductor lines of the first semiconductor chip iselectrically floating.
 8. The multi-chip package of claim 4, wherein theplurality of conductor lines are parallel to each other and are spacedapart at a first pitch.
 9. The multi-chip package of claim 4, whereinthe plurality of conductor lines extend between one edge to a centerportion of the second surface.
 10. The multi-chip package of claim 9,wherein the plurality of conductor lines extend between one edge to anopposite edge of the second surface.